Elizabeth Zimmermann was born on August 9th, 1910 (8/9/10), so this year 2010 is the 100th anniversary of her birth. This shawl is one of a set of six shawls designed as a tribute to EZ and a celebration of all she has done for us. They are based on her PI Shawl which can be found in her book Knitter’s Almanac. Three of the EZ 100th Anniversary PI Shawls (Gull Wings, Hearts, and Camping), are full circles; modifications have been applied so that the lace design stitch repeats and the number of rounds are multiples of 8, 9, and 10 (the numbers in her birthday). The other three shawls are half-circle versions of Gull Wings, Hearts, and Camping.

The theme of this new design (Camping) is the wonderful camping trips that EZ describes. In the Knitter’s Almanac, page 85, she describes being over 60, water-camping and fishing in the Canadian north woods. Spectacular! There are other stories about camping by the Mississippi, “dandled by the milky ripples” of the river (The Opinionated Knitter, page 70). But my absolute favourite is about a camping trip on a remote island in northern Canada, in late September 1971, with Elizabeth, the Old Man, and KLINE, the cat (The Opinionated Knitter, pages 38-41). If you have never read this, you simply must get hold of it.

The Camping theme: -- 72 and 144 st rings: Paw Prints (adapted from The Haapsalu Shawl page 131), to honour KLINE the cat, and all our furry companions. -- 288 st ring: Slanting Twigs (page 119), to represent a walk in the forest with sun shining through the trees. -- 576 st ring: Willow Leaves (page 105), to celebrate the beauty of everything growing and green. -- Edging: I’m calling this Waves and Droplets. Based on TiaJudy’s scalloped edging to represent water lapping up at the edge of the lake or river, and rolling back across the sand and rocks.

Use any yarn weight and needle size that you like. You don’t have to use the stitch patterns that I provided, you could unvent your own stitch patterns with repeats that are multiples of 8, 9, or 10.

Allow enough yarn! I used 5mm needles and fingering weight wool for all three shawls. Approximate yards used and blocked diameter were: Gull Wings (1350 yards, 62”, 158cm); Hearts (1380 yards, 64”, 163cm); Camping (1300 yards, 64”, 163cm). Your required yards and diameter will vary depending on yarn weight, needle size, and tension. It’s better to have yarn left over than to run out near the end.